Modeled after the strong scientific management characteristics of the Manhattan Project and AT&T Bell Laboratories, the Energy Department’s Energy Innovation Hubs are integrated research centers that combine basic and applied research with engineering to accelerate scientific discovery that addresses critical energy issues.

The Hubs were first established in 2010 with the creation of the Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors, which focuses on improving nuclear reactors through computer-based modeling. In total, there are currently four Hubs that work on everything from advance research to produce fuels directly from sunlight (the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis) to improving battery technology for transportation and the grid (the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research) to developing solutions for rare earth elements and other materials critical to a growing number of clean energy technologies (the Critical Materials Institute).

Energy conversion "machines" that generate fuels directly from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide? This hub is accelerating our innovation in designing solar energy-to-fuel conversion systems with the required efficiency, scalability, and sustainability to be economically viable.

What are Hubs?

Learn how Energy Innovation Hubs are helping to advance promising areas of energy science and engineering from the earliest stages of research to the point of commercialization -- technologies can move to the private sector by bringing together leadings scientists to collaborate on critical energy challenges.